Mayo

After a nearly four-year investigation that expanded from one sport to another and involves some of the most prominent names in its storied sports history, USC finally goes before the NCAA infractions committee Thursday. The 10-member committee convenes to determine whether alleged violations in USC's football and basketball programs took place and, if so, whether they constituted a lack of institutional control. "My understanding is this one might be a pretty long deal," Tom Yeager, a former NCAA infractions committee member, said of the hearing.

April 2006 Pacific 10 Conference begins investigation after several media outlets report that tailback Reggie Bush's mother, stepfather and brother had been living in a San Diego-area home owned by Michael Michaels, a would-be sports marketer. Bush says the situation was "blown out of proportion." He tells ESPN, "When this is all said and done everyone will see at the end of the day that we've done absolutely nothing wrong." Soon after, the New Orleans Saints make Bush the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft.

With an NCAA committee set to hear allegations against big-name former USC athletes later this week, Athletic Director Mike Garrett insists that his department abides by the book. "We have two cases like that, and it was such an anomaly for us," Garrett said during a recent interview. "That's not our nature and never will be our nature." Although Garrett declined to discuss specifics, school officials appearing before the NCAA infractions committee this week are expected to challenge the notion that they knew of misconduct or otherwise failed to monitor their athletes -- most notably former Trojans stars Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo.

The frown that Mike Garrett often wears in public, an expression made of blunt features set hard as stone, gives way to something unexpected. His eyes glisten with tears. "I frankly don't know why I'm being so emotional," he says. This is not the USC tailback from the 1960s, bulling his way to a Heisman Trophy. Not the gruff athletic director who has presided over sports at his alma mater for two decades, winning championships by the fistful. Garrett reaches for another tissue and says, "I guess I don't usually talk to people."

USC tonight VS. WASHINGTON STATE When: 7:30. Where: Galen Center. On the air: Radio: 1260. Records: USC 11-6 overall, 3-2 in Pacific 10; Washington State 13-5, 3-3. Update: After beating UCLA by its biggest margin since 1945, USC returns home for the first time since being banned from postseason play by the university for violations involving former guard O.J. Mayo. Washington State comes in off a victory over Stanford, and features the Pac-10's top scorer in guard Klay Thompson (22.9 points per game)

Most of USC's current players were never teammates of O.J. Mayo , the former Trojans guard at the center of allegations that have resulted in the school's imposing sanctions on its basketball program. Junior guard Marcus Simmons is an exception. He wasn't only a teammate, he was Mayo's roommate -- and he says he never saw any evidence that his friend was accepting money, gifts or special favors that would be in violation of NCAA rules. "I didn't notice anything," Simmons said.

O.J. Mayo did not accept gifts or money while being recruited by or playing for USC, the player's agent said Wednesday. LaPoe Smith also said the NCAA, Pacific 10 Conference and officials from the school have not attempted to contact Mayo since August, when the former Trojans and current Memphis Grizzlies star became his client. USC on Sunday announced self-imposed sanctions on the Trojans men's basketball program, citing rules violations involving Mayo and Rodney Guillory, a former advisor to the player who the school referred to as a "booster."

Memphis 109, at Portland 105: O.J. Mayo and Zach Randolph each had 27 points and the Grizzlies finished the game with a 13-1 run to erase a 104-96 deficit and improve to 17-16, the first time they've been above .500 this season. Memphis started the season 1-8. at Indiana 97, Orlando 90: Roy Hibbert scored a career-high 26 points as the Pacers surprised the Magic, which lost its second in a row. at Dallas 98, Detroit 93: Jason Terry scored 26 points for the Mavericks.

USC announced Sunday it had placed the following sanctions on its basketball program because of rules violations relating to the recruiting of former player O.J. Mayo by school "booster" Rodney Guillory: Vacate all 21 of its victories from the one season Mayo played for the Trojans, in 2007-08. Return an undisclosed amount of money it received from its participation in the 2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament. Will not play in the 2010 Pacific 10 Conference postseason tournament or NCAA tournament.

In a long-awaited response to allegations that former basketball star O.J. Mayo received improper cash and gifts while in school, USC will penalize its team by forfeiting victories and money, forgoing postseason play and curtailing recruiting. "When we've done something wrong, we have an obligation to do something about it and that is exactly what we are doing here," Athletic Director Mike Garrett said in a statement on Sunday. The action comes as USCalso faces allegations that two prominent football players -- current tailback Joe McKnight and former tailback Reggie Bush -- accepted improper benefits.